"Hello?", kumaway-kaway na ako sa mukha niya pero mukha siyang estatwang ewan.
"You look different. Strange...", tsaka niya ako tinignan mula ulo hanggang paa. Why do I feel insulted?
"If you're here to insult me, I swear, I'm gonna punch you in the face".
"Harsh. As a matter of fact, I'm here to escort you". Ako naman ngayon ang tumingin sakanya mula ulo hanggang paa.
"Did you eat something bad?"
"Of course not, I just want to escort the lady. If you are still wary, then you can think of it as a charity", then he offered his hand to me as a courtesy to escort me.
"You know, if I wasn't in a good mood and feeling beautiful, I'd already hit you on the head", inabot ko yung kamay ko sakanya. "So, what really is the reason you came for me?", nagsimula na kaming lumakad.
I'm a bit glad that Chadwick is here. May alalay ako sa paglalakad. Damn, these heels are higher than I thought.
"I received a letter from the Duchy". So? What have I got to do with that?
"And?"
"They mentioned something about your coming of age and our engagement", what the fuck?
"Oh, that? I also received a letter from father", thinking about the engagement... it pisses me off. Aren't I too young thinking about marriage?
Tumingin ako kay Chadwick. Now take a look at that, we're both having the same facial expression.
I do not hate Chadwick, but it doesn't mean that I like him too. I like him like a living thing. I don't know if you can call us friends but every time we are together, we always bicker.
Now that I think about it, how come he hadn't killed me since I always annoy him.
Annoying him is like a second hobby to me.
"I think we need to talk about this, seriously", ani niya.
"Agreed", nakarating na kami sa may banquet hall.
"Announcing the entrance of Lord Chadwick Vaillant and Lady Alexandria Eveque", letche naman bakit kailangan i-announce?
Pumasok na kami ng banquet hall at naamoy ko agad yung mga masasarap na pagkain. Sumalubong din saamin yung mga mata at bulong-bulongan ng marami.
Habang tumatagal ang pag-stay ko dito sa mundong ito, nasasanay na rin ako sa mga ganyanan nila. Noong una, nako-conscious ako at nabi-bwisit ngayon parang waley nalang.
Nakalapit na kami kung saan nakapwesto sila Prim at Charlotte. Ramdam ko yung mga matatalim na mga tingin ng mga tao saamin.
Prim is wearing a pale pink gown that flows from top to bottom and has a Queen Anne neckline, which graciously reveals the luxurious dress worn below it.
Hindi rin papakabog ito eh.
Charlotte is wearing a blue gown that matches the color of her eyes. As expected of the female lead, her beauty is no joke.
I looked at Chadwick. Sus, pasikreto pa siyang nakiterno kay Charlotte eh. Chadwick is wearing a dark blue suit with bling-blings pa. I can say na nag-effort po siya.
"I knew it! That style really suits you. It really brings out your beauty", bungad saakin ni Prim. Kararating ko palang, hindi pa ako ready sa mga compliments.
"You flatter me, Prim. You also look lovely tonight. You too Charlotte, I like your dress it matches your eyes".
Iniwan naman kami ni Chadwick at siya'y nakipagmingle sa iba.
"Announcing the entrance of His Highness, the crown prince of Kershian Kingdom, Prince Ashton Alleio Heroux"
"Kyaa!", sigaw nung mga fans ni Ash.
Lahat kami ay napatingin sa may entrance. I blinked my eyes and looked at Ash again. Why is there a halo behind him? Is this some kind of a male lead's power? May automatic na blinding light background kapag mag-eentrance?
Ilang minuto lang din ay dumating yung mga heads at dean ng academy. May pa-speech pa sila pero hindi ko na napakinggan ng mabuti dahil sa naging busy na rin ako sa pagkain.
Ito ang ipinunta ko dito.
Patuloy pa rin sa pagbibigay ng speech si Dean, pinagbawalan na rin ako ni Prim na kumuha pa ng isang plate kaya naman inilibot ko nalang ang paningin ko.
I'll just watch others died because of boredom... is what I thought I'd do.
Napansin kong biglang umalis si Sir Howard na parang nagmamadali. Since I'm curious, sinundan ko si Sir Howard. "Prim, Charlotte, I'll just take a breather for a while".
Umokay naman sila. Agad-agad akong naglakad sa hallway kung saan ko nakita si Sir Howard. He told me that he was going to talk to me about something. Since the classes were canceled for a week, we haven't been given the chance to meet. It sounds serious, I wonder what is it about.
Medyo nakalayo na ako at wala ng ilaw mga dito. "San nagpunta yun?". Napatingin ako sa paligid. Honestly, this place screams "danger" so babalik na ako banquet hall.
"Alexandria", di ba? Kakasabi ko palang.
Napahawak na lang ako sa dibdib ko. Feeling ko lalabas na puso ko doon. Ikaw ba naman may makitang anino ng tao sa dilim.
"What are you doing here, Daryl? Did you follow me?"
"I should be asking you that, Alexandria. What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at the hall?"
"Wha? I j--just.. huh? I just followed one of my professors here but it seems I lost him".
Ever since I trained Qi Manipulation, I was given the ability to detect or sense other people near me. But how come it never works on Daryl. Every single time, I always got startled by him. What kind of hocus pocus is he using?
"That professor in the expedition?"
"Yes"
"I suggest you to stop looking for him", sagot niya na siyang ipinagtaka ko. "The day that you went missing, everyone was panicking except for that man".
"What?"
"It was just for a moment but I'm sure I saw him smiled. That man is suspicious, Alexandria. You should avoid him from now on, if it is unavoidable then, don't meet him alone. He might do something to you".
Sir Howard was smiling when I disappeared? Since that expedition, I've been a bit cautious of Sir Howard actually. I remembered when they found me on that big rock, I felt that everyone was relieved that they found me except for Sir Howard.
His expression at that time was not a face of a relieved person. It was more of an ecstatic expression. Hindi ko lang pinansin nung time na iyon dahil baka sobrang saya niya lang noon. But now, you are telling me that Sir was acting odd that time?
"I also looked some information about him, we didn't see anything suspicious, however, he's been going in and out the academy secretly for the past weeks", dagdag pa ni Daryl.
"Is this why he's bothering me about what happened that day?", does he know about the demon worshippers? Is Sir Howard a demon worshipper?
"Daryl.. have you heard about Az'goch Tath'tinir?", tanong ko sakaniya. Baka sakaling alam niya since he's the master of all information guild aside from being an assassin master.
"Az'goch Tath'tinir? This is the first time I've heard about it. Why?"
"You know that big rock where you found me, that was carved on it".
"Do you want me to look into it?", ayan nanaman yung mga pangiti-ngiti niya. "Of course, this isn't free since this is a job". But I didn't officially requested for it? Pero gusto ko rin malaman kung ano pinaggagagawa ng mga worshippers na yun at kung sinu-sino yung mga members.
"Then how much do I need to pay?", teka? Ilan pa ba natira sa allowance ko? Should I contact my father to increase my allowance?
Imbis na sabihin niya kung magkano ay ningitian niya lang ako. "I'll collect your payment next time, Alexandria", mas lumapit pa siya saakin. "Just remember that my price is quite high but don't worry, you will be able to pay for it".
Huh? What kind of payment are you talking about? "Hahaha", umatras ako ng kaunti dahil sa sobrang lapit niya saakin tsaka baka rin makita niyang pulang-pula ang mukha ko. Pasalamat na lang ako dahil madilim dito.
"What are you doing?", bigla kasing lumuhod si Daryl tsaka hinawakan yung kanang paa ko. "What's that?", may ikinabit kasi siya sa paa ko.
"It's an anklet. Well, you can take it as a charm since you always attract trouble and dangerous situation", sagot niya.
"Hahaha...", para naman sinasadya ko.
"Go back to the hall now. Remember what I said, avoid that man", umokay nalang ako at nagsimulang maglakad papabalik sa hall. "While you're at it, avoid that duke and that prince"pahabol pa niya.
==========================
"Alex, where did you go? His Highness and Lord Chadwick have been looking for you", bungad saakin ni Prim.
"Ah, I was just outside", palusot ko. Looking for me daw, eh magkasayaw ngayon si Charlotte at Chadwick. Pfft.
"Oh! Stay here Alex, there's this guy I've eyeing for a while. I've been sending signals to him but he's so dense", tsaka ako iniwan ni Prim at pinuntahan yung lalaking target niya ngayon.
Poor guy.
Kumuha nalang ako maiinom at pumewesto sa may gilid. Mag-stay lang ako ng saglit tsaka uuwi na rin ako. Wala naman akong balak sumayaw, eh kung hiphop sana.
"Ria?", napatingin ako kay Ash na tumawag saakin. Tiningnan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa tsaka tiningnan yung suot ko.
Is it just me or does our attire match? Ash is wearing a suit with a combination of white, gold, and red.
"Where have you've been? I've been looking for you", tanong niya.
"Just outside", kinunutan niya lang ako ng noo.
Mas lumapit si Ash saakin and offered his left hand. "Would you like to dance, Ria?"
Kahit na wala akong balak na sumayaw ngayon ay wala naman akong choice dahil sa marami na rin ang nakatingin saamin at naririnig ko mga bulung-bulongan nila. Also, how could I refuse the crown prince? How dare I.
"Yes, I would love to", Ash escorted me onto the dance floor and we started swaying. Napatawa nalang ako sa utak ko dahil nasa amin lahat yung attention.
Dammit!
Mabuti nalang at marunong sumayaw si book-Alexandria kahit na hindi pa siya sumasayaw sa ibang parties and ball. Based on the novel, Alexandria wants Chadwick to be her first dance but that didn't happen.
"What are you thinking, Ria?"
"Ah! I just thought that this is actually my first dance".
"Then, I am honored to be your first dance".
"Ah!", after ako i-twirl ni Ash ay bigla niya akong binend or what you call it "dip". Sakto namang natapos yung tugtog.
"Thank you for the dance, my Ria", tsaka niya hinalikan yung kamay ko. Nagpalakpakan naman yung mga tao.
Umalis na kami ng dance floor ni Ash at mukha siyang tuwang-tuwa sa ginawa niya. Pumunta kami sa pwesto kung saan nakatayo sila Prim, Charlotte at Chadwick na pasimpleng tumatawa.
"That was a great dance, Your Highness, Alex", Charlotte.
"Especially that ending", dagdag ni Chadwick. Sinamaan ko nga sila ng tingin.
"I think that was romantic", ani naman ni Prim.
Nagstay pa muna ako sa party at kunyaring nakinig sa mga pinagsasasabi nila. "I think I'm gonna go now", paalam ko sakanila.
"But it's still early, are you sure?", Prim.
"Yes, just tell the others, okay?", may mga kausap kasi sila Charlotte at Ash kaya klay Prim lang ako nagpaalam.
Papalabas na ako ng hall ng makasalubong si Chadwick. "Let me walk you to your room".
"You're suspisciously kind to me, it's frightening", humawak ako kay Chadwick tutal siya naman nag-offer na ihahatid niya ako. "Seriously, is there something you want from me?"
"Can we talk over there?", sabay turo niya sa may garden. Ano ba yan, kami lang naman tao dito lahat nasa banquet. "Sure", lumakad na kami sa garden at tanging liwanag galing sa buwan ang ilaw namin.
"It's about our engagement", panimula niya. "I want to... well, the reason is... hmm", kailan niya kaya mabubuo yung sasabihin niya. Though, I already have an idea.
"Let me guess, you want to cancel our engagement because you like Charlotte, am I right?", mukha naman siyang nagulat sa sinabi ko.
"How did you--"
"Pfft. It's because you're too obvious that even the whole academy had already noticed it", tsaka sa tuwing magkakasama kami lagi ko siyang nakikitang nagnanakaw ng tingin kay Charlotte. Kaya nga minsan binibwisit ko siya eh. And I also get the vibes that he's torpe. So torpe!
Di tulad ni Daryl na napaka-aggressi-- Eh? Erase. Erase. Why would I think about him of all times?
"You're not mad?"
"Of course not, why would I get mad? Don't worry, I will talk to father to cancel everything"
"That's a relief but you're really not mad?"
"Yes, I'm sure I'm not mad", it's more like good riddance. "Besides, I like Charlotte and to be honest she more suitable to be the Vaillant duchess compare to me", and it sounds like a lot of work.
"I didn't expect for you to be this lenient. You really did change or perhaps I've misjudged you and I apologize for everything. It might be presumptuous of me but can we still remain as friends?", Chadwick offered his hands for a handshake which I accepted.
"Friends it is", does this mean I already cleared one of my death flags? "I can still annoy you, right?"
"Perhaps something hasn't changed, you're still childish".
"I'm just kiddi--", I didn't finish what I'm about to say when I sense people surrounding us.
"Alexandria, get on my back", and it looks like Chadwick felt it too.
//boom! boom!//
"Chadwick! *cough-cough* What's happening?!", biglang may nagtapon ng smoke bomb. Humawak ako ng mabuti sa damit ni Chadwick.
"Who's there?!", Chadwick. Nararamdaman kong may mga tao sa paligid pero wala kaming makita dahil sa kapal ng usok.
"Chadwick, use your power".
"I would like to but the smoke is infused with anti-magic", what? Does such a thing exist? Hinawakan ko bewang ni Chadwick, wala yung sword niya. "What are you doing? Why are touching my waist?"
"Why are you not carrying your sword?", habang nagtatalo kami ni Chadwick ay biglang may lumitaw na mga nakamaskara.
"What the?!", bigla naman nilang tinakpan yung ilong namin ni Chadwick. Those masks, I recognized those. "Bastard....", hanggang sa nawalan na ako ng malay.
=============================
"Zagan, is it really okay to leave Alexandria alone? It's been weeks since she hasn't summoned you yet. Perhaps, she already forgot you. Should I go there and form a contract with her?", Zepar.
"Shut up, Zepar! And how long are you going to stay here at my palace? Don't you have your own place?", Zagan.
"I have but it's boring", Zepar.
"Boring? Then, finish all these papers since you are the root of this mess. Ha.. in this period, to have such lowly worshippers, goes against our demonic law. Humans cannot worship us it's an insult to us, you are aware of that, right?", Zagan
"Yes, yes, because of the agreement between the demon emperor and the god of light", Zepar. "But when we can go back? Aren't you worried about Alexandria?".
"Not really. For a human, Alexandria is strong not physically, and has a fortitude of a demon which I approve of. She's sometimes smart so she will be fine without me, also since she can use my legions. But I wonder what is she up to now?", Zagan.